Mar2015
Delegates gather in preparation
by LCA Communications
Training of delegates to the eighteenth General Convention has concluded. Conducted by Grassroots Training (a division of Australian Lutheran College), the training was held in 22 locations across Australia and New Zealand during March in order to prepare delegates for their responsibilities for the three-year synodical term, which commences at General Convention. In the past,… Read more
Mar2015
LCNZ: high hopes for media ministry return
by LCA Communications
An opportunity to return a ‘message of hope’ to the airwaves in New Zealand is one step closer following meetings in Auckland in mid-February. The Lutheran Church of New Zealand’s media ministry came to a close in 2002 after a long period on radio, but hopes have always been strong that a way could be… Read more
Mar2015
Appeal brings help to those in need
by LCA Communications
South Australia’s Sampson Flat bushfire was still raging when Assistant Bishop Tim Klein requested help for the SA/NT District from the wider LCA community early in January. Although the situation was difficult to assess at the time, there was enough information available to know that this was a circumstance where the church could give practical… Read more
Mar2015
Suomi Conference welcomes new executive officer
by Risto Soder
Rev Ian Vainikka has been installed as executive officer of the Suomi Conference. The Suomi Conference was established in 1968 as the result of a meeting between Finnish pastors serving in the Lutheran Church of Australia and LCA officials. By 1968 a long line of Finnish pastors had already been living and working in Australia,… Read more
Feb2015
Significant contributions from quiet achievers
by LCA Communications
The Australia Day 2015 Honours List recognised eight people with some connection to the Lutheran Church this year—some for their significant contribution to the church and to their local congregations; others whose contributions to their communities flow from their Christian faith. ‘They are a source of courage, support and inspiration, and we are a stronger,… Read more
Feb2015
Convention delegates get ready
by LCA Communications
‘It’s time to get ready’ is the message coming from the LCA national team—it’s time to get ready for the 18th LCA General Convention of Synod. Throughout March, Convention delegates will start getting ready by attending a series of pre-Convention half-day training sessions to be held across Australia and New Zealand. This is the first… Read more
Feb2015
Sifting through readers’ responses
by LCA Communications
The readership survey conducted for The Lutheran between October and December last year has provided a large amount of useful information for the LCA Communications team to consider. We received about 680 surveys, representing approximately 10 per cent of our current subscribers—enough responses to be statistically significant. Almost three-quarters (71 per cent) were from readers… Read more
Jan2015
Finnish Lutheran recieves homeland honour
by Andrew Brook
When Pastor Jorma Jormakka arrived in Australia on Christmas Eve, 1968, not in his wildest dreams could he have imagined that one day he would be standing next to the Finnish ambassador, about to receive one of Finland’s highest honours. Back in 1968, Jorma wasn’t a pastor but worked with his hands, first in the… Read more
Jan2015
Risky business: theology for a modern society
by LCA Communications
In Workplace Health and Safety terms, few people would consider the study of theology a particularly risky business, but the Uniting Church Moderator for South Australia, Dr Deirdre Palmer, sees things differently. ‘In our theological education, we encounter a God who invites us into a different way of seeing the world, a God who invites… Read more
May2014
Royal Commission: sigh of relief and sigh of sadness
The LCA’s working group on issues relating to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is relieved to report that so far no subpoenas for church records have been received.
